Operating mechanism for roundabouts.



J. R. ySIIVIMONS & P. J. FORD. oPBRATlNG MEGHANISM POR ROUNDABOUTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1907.

JOEL R. SIMMONS AND PATRICK J. FORD, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ROUNDABOUTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 7, 1910.

Application filed September 30, 1907. Serial No. 395,256.

T 0 all 'who/m it 'may concern? Be it known that we, JOEL R. SruMoNs and PATRICK J. FORD, citizens of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond, State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for Roundabouts; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in that class of amusement devices which are termed roundabouts, and it has more particular reference to a roundabout constructed for operation by hand power. y

The invention has for one of its objects the provision of a novel form of ratchet mechanism by means of which the operator may propel the roundabout in an easy and eifective manner.

Another object is the provision of a device exceedingly simple in structure and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and which may be readily applied to most forms of hand roundabouts now in use.

In the accompanying `drawings forming part of the specification: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a hand roundabout provided with our device. Fig. 2 is a detailed perspective of the operating member.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In the drawings', the numeral 5 designates a supporting base, constituted preferably of interitting bars, arranged in cross like form and supporting at their centers a standard 6, through which a vertical center bolt 7 passes, the latter projecting through the upstanding hub 8, of a stationary bevel pinion 9, the hub 8 being keyed or otherwise held fast to the bolt 7 IIhe horizontal beam of the roundabout is designated by the numeral 10 and its central portion which rests upon the top of the hub 8 is constructed with an opening 11, through which the bolt 7 projects. Said beam on each side of its central portion is formed in its underface with recesses 12, to

accommodate bevel pinions 13 which mesh with and rotate about the pinion 9. The pinions 18 are carried upon the inner ends of shafts 11i, journaled on each side of the center of the beam in bearings 15 secured to the underface thereof. Said beam at its ends is recessed as at 16 to accommodate ratchet wheels 17 carried at the outer ends of the shafts 14.

Levers 18 have their ends formed with collars 19 which loosely surround the shafts 14. On the outer end of each transmission shaft 14 is a lever 18 which has a collar 19 at its inner end engaging the said shaft and forming a bearing for said lever. Said lever is further provided with a split sleeve 2O concentric with said collar and within which the ratchet wheel is disposed, one of the split edges of the said sleeve being inturned as at 21 and constituting a pawl engaging said ratchet wheel.

The manner of operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description. rlhe levers 18 are manually oscillated, forward movement thereof, by means of the ratchet mechanism, turning the shafts 14 and by means of the gearing revolving the beamuabout the bolt 7 as a center and rearward movement thereof, being without an operation of the parts as will be understood.

I/Vhat is claimed is:

In an operating mechanism for roundabouts, the combination with a transmission shaft provided with a driving ratchet wheel, of a lever having a collar at one end engaging the outer end of the transmission shaft and forming a bearing for said lever, the said lever being further provided .with a split sleeve concentric with said collar and within which the ratchet wheel is disposed, one of the split edges of the said sleeve being in-turned and constituting a pawl engaging said ratchet wheel.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOEL R. SIMMONS. PATRICK J. FORD.

Witnesses:

G. C. HALLEY, F. C. FORD. 

